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Why Some Scientists Are Embracing Activism

Some say they are inspired to march by a political climate they see as skeptical of science, plus a growing realization that publishing papers isn’t the most effective way to communicate with the public

This weekend, scientists from a range of fields and their supporters will take to the streets in the first March for Science, an event that organizers expect to attract participants in more than 500 locations around the globe.

Many scientists have traditionally avoided public political activism, out of concern they would be perceived as lacking scientific objectivity. And many researchers who aren’t participating in the marches—or the upcoming Peoples Climate March on April 29—noted that the sciences are far from a homogeneous...